hrough the newspapers, the temptation was strong to go to Louise, and
spend the hot afternoon hours at her side. But he resisted; for that
would have been a poor beginning to the sensible way of life they would
have to follow, from now on. Besides, with the certainty of seeing her
again in a very short time, it was not impossible to be patient. No
more uncertainty, no more doubts and fears!--the day for these was
over.--And so, having satisfied himself that his room was still
uninhabitable, he strolled to the Conservatorium, to see what notices
had remained affixed to the notice-board. As he was leaving again, he
met the janitor, and from him learned that his name was down for the
first ADBENDUNTERHALTUNG of the coming month.

In the shadeless street, he paused irresolute. The heat of the
slumbrous afternoon was oppressive; all animation seemed suspended. The
trees in streets and gardens drooped, brownishyellow, and heavy with
dust. The sun met the eyes blindingly, and was reflected from every
house-wall. Maurice went for a walk in the woods. In his pocket he had
a letter, still unread, which he had found waiting for him that day. It
was from his mother, and his eyes slid carelessly over the pages. There
were the usual reproaches for his prolonged silences, the never-failing
reminders that his time in Leipzig would come to an end the following
spring, as well as several details of domestic interest. Then, however,
followed a piece of news, which rallied his attention.

YOU WILL DOUBTLESS BE INTERESTED TO HEAR, she wrote, THAT YOUR FRIEND
THE OLD MUSIC TEACHER IN NORWICH DIED SUDDENLY LAST WEEK. HIS PUPILS
HAD FALLEN OFF GREATLY OF LATE AND WHEN EVERYTHING HAD BEEN SOLD THERE
WAS SCARCELY ENOUGH TO COVER THE FUNERAL EXPENSES. YOUR FATHER THINKS
THAT THOUGH A YOUNG PERSON FROM LONDON OF THE NAME OF SMITH OR SMYTHE
HAS LATELY SET UP THERE AND ATTRACTED MANY OF THE BEST PAYING FAMILIES
YET THE OLD CONNECTION MIGHT BE WORKED UP AGAIN AND IT WOULD BE WORTH
YOUR WHILE TRYING TO DO IT. AT FIRST YOU COULD LIVE AT HOME AND GO OVER
ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK. YOUR FATHER HAS BEEN MAKING INQUIRIES ABOUT A
SUITABLE ROOM.

This news called up a feeling of repugnance in Maurice: it came like a
message from another world; the very baldness of its expression seemed
to throw him back, at one stroke, into the hated atmosphere of his
home. He folded the letter and replaced it in the envelope, with such a
conscious hostility to all that